Special News--December 2020Genocide
Studying, Preventing, Confronting, Punishing, Healing
...Weeping..."...acts committed with intent to destroy, in whole or in part,
a national, ethnical, racial or religious group..."
UN Genocide Convention, 1948
"We can't just Pontius Pilate 800,000 people."
Romeo Dallaire
Notes
Quote: Romeo Dallaire was the Commander of the UN Peacekeeping Force during the Rwandan genocide in 1994. He pleaded unsuccessfully for UN intervention prior to the genocide. Later he invented a verb, Pontius Pilate, used in this 2002 interview, to describe how deceptively easy it is to forget about the genocide now and wrongfully wash our hands of what happened. The Haunting: He Couldn’t Stop the Slaughter in Rwanda. Now He Can’t Stop the Memory. Ken Ringle, The Washington Post, 15 June 2002.Image: Murambi Genocide Memorial, Rwanda. “Here, on April 21st, 1994, between 40,000-50,000 Tutsis and Hutu sympathizers were murdered. The perpetrators carried out the slaughter in [just] over eight hours. The site is a haunting reminder of what this country has endured and what it is still overcoming.” Letter from Rwanda: A Privileged Engagement. Ashling O’Donnell, Global Geneva, November 2018. ----------
In this Update we feature the contributions from genocide scholar Dr. Jane Gangi. As the Guest Contributor, she shares her perspectives as well as core resources for understanding, preventing, and confronting the crime of genocide. Historical examples of genocide and current crises are also highlighted, noting that genocide in its many insidious forms continues to plague humanity and that confronting it entails political, social, and personal action--and risks. Thank you for bearing witness to genocide, Dr. Gangi, and encouraging us to do the same!
We also continue to include Perspectives and Resources for Covid Care. We have compiled these materials over the past eight months to support you, your family, your organization, and others in your life and to support your work.
Warm greetings,
Kelly and Michèle
MCAresources@gmail.com
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Featured Resources
Genocide
Studying, Preventing, Confronting, Punishing, Healing
...and Weeping...
Choeung Ek, Cambodia--commemorative stupa from one of the killing fields.
"Estimates of the total deaths...from Khmer Rouge policies, including death from disease and starvation, range from 1.7 to 2.5 million out of a 1975 population of roughly 8 million. In 1979, Vietnam invaded...and toppled the Khmer Rouge regime." Killing Fields, Wikipedia
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Greetings from Jane Gangi
Bearing Witness
“Bearing witness is…a simple practice of being brave enough to sit with human suffering, to acknowledge it for what it is, to not flee from it. It doesn’t make the suffering go away, although it sometimes changes the experience of grief and pain.” Meg Wheatley
Greetings to colleagues around the world. Thank you, Michèle and Kelly, for this opportunity to share my work on genocide, hoping to connect with the lives and work of those who read this.
My way to address my helplessness in the face of mass atrocity, as Meg Wheatley says in the above epigraph, is to sit with human suffering, in my case, through the study of genocide. One of the most influential books for me has been Adam Jones’s Evoking Genocide: Scholars and Activists Describe the Works That Shaped Their Lives. Jones interviewed 58 genocide scholars and activists, asking them what “evoked” them to the study of genocide. Their answers included mostly literature and the arts, for example, in addition to books and poetry: visual art, music, photography, sculpture, and film. It was viewing Sidney Lumet’s 1964 film, The Pawnbroker, while in college in the late sixties and early seventies that steered me to write and teach about genocide.
My work as an educator with a specialty in children’s and young adult literature led to studying the impact of genocide on children as well as adults. In 2007 I began teaching a course I have taught at several colleges on the graduate and undergraduate levels, Genocide in Literature in Art, and I continue to write on the topic. Upcoming publications include “Representations of Genocide” in Deborah Mayersen’s edited volume, A Cultural History of Genocide in the Modern World (Bloomsbury, 2021), and “War and Terror in Children’s and Young Adult Literature” in Zoe Jacques and Eugene Giddens’s edited History of Children’s Literature (Cambridge University Press, 2022). Continuing this work of bearing witness matters greatly for all of us to honor and remember these precious human lives, cruelly extinguished. It also matters because those who would continue atrocity are emboldened when they witness impunity. When launching plans for the extermination of European Jews, the Roma, the disabled, and homosexuals, Adolph Hitler asked, “After all, who remembers the Armenians?”
In the powerpoint below, I offer books, both children’s and adult, that have “evoked” me, with the recognition that what evokes one individual might not evoke another. There was very little crossover among the 58 scholars in Jones’s work and there were surprises, for example, Henryk Sienkiewicz’s novel, Quo Vadis, about the torture of early Christians great influenced as a child Raphael Lemkin, the Polish Jew who dedicated his life to giving a name to genocide, the definition adopted by the United Nations.
Bearing Witness to 20th and 21st Century Genocides: Literature and the Arts. Powerpoint by Jane Gangi, PhD (November 2020). PDF version HERE. This is the main resource prepared for this Update. It includes material on 12 genocides/armed conflicts.
Read the rest of Dr. Gangi’s introduction at the end of the Genocide sections below.
Historical Examples of Genocide
--List of Genocides by Death Toll (partial list, 1800-current) Wikipedia
--Genocides in History, Wikipedia
Current Crises
--Uyghur Crisis: China Undercover. PBS Frontline. Special report on the treatment of Muslims in China (April 2020); Uyghurs Living Abroad in Fear, Amnesty International (February 2020); Uyghur Genocide, Wikipedia
--Rohingya Crisis: Myanmar Rohingya, BBC (23 January 2020); Rohingya, Human Rights Watch; Call to recognize Rohingya genocide ahead of UN donor meeting, Al Jazeera (22 October 2020); Rohingya Genocide, Wikipedia
--Voices of the Past and Present: Victims and Survivors of Genocide and Conflict Speak, World Without Genocide, Mitchell Hamline School of Law, no date (14 pages)
--Etc.
Exhumation of mass grave site in Compalapa, Chimaltenango, Guatemala (2005).
Note: “The Guatemalan genocide… was the massacre of Maya civilians during the Guatemalan military government's counterinsurgency operations. Massacres, forced disappearances, torture and summary executions of guerrillas and especially civilian collaborators at the hands of US-backed security forces had been widespread since 1965 and was a longstanding policy of the military regime…While massacres of indigenous peasants had occurred earlier in the war, the systematic use of terror against the indigenous population began around 1975 and peaked during the first half of the 1980s….An estimated 200,000 Guatemalans were killed during the Guatemalan Civil War including at least 40,000 persons who "disappeared." 93% of civilian executions were carried out by government forces.” Guatemalan Genocide, Wikipedia
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United Nations Resources
“Too often, the world has failed the populations under threat of genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes and ethnic cleansing. The examples are many, and we know them well, but they remain a scourge, even today, causing great suffering. And the devastating impact on the victims, communities and society as a whole can take generations to overcome and heal.
Acting quickly to early warning signs and investing in early prevention can save lives and prevent attempts to destroy vulnerable groups, in whole or in part. Where we see people facing systematic discrimination or becoming targets of violence simply because of who they are, because of their identity, we must act – both to defend those at immediate risk and those who could be in jeopardy in the future. By promoting a culture of peace and non-violence that includes respect for diversity and non-discrimination, we can build societies that are resilient to the risk of genocide.” United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres, 9 December 2019
The UN Genocide Convention and the Definition of Genocide
--Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide, UN 1948 (entry into force 12 January 1951). The Contracting Parties, Having considered the declaration made by the General Assembly of the United Nations in its resolution 96 (I) dated 11 December 1946 that genocide is a crime under international law, contrary to the spirit and aims of the United Nations and condemned by the civilized world, Recognizing that at all periods of history genocide has inflicted great losses on humanity, and Being convinced that, in order to liberate mankind from such an odious scourge, international co-operation is required, Hereby agree as hereinafter provided:
Article I: The Contracting Parties confirm that genocide, whether committed in time of peace or in time of war, is a crime under international law which they undertake to prevent and to punish. Article II: In the present Convention, genocide means any of the following acts committed with intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethnical, racial or religious group, as such: (a) Killing members of the group; (b) Causing serious bodily or mental harm to members of the group; (c) Deliberately inflicting on the group conditions of life calculated to bring about its physical destruction in whole or in part; (d) Imposing measures intended to prevent births within the group; (e) Forcibly transferring children of the group to another group. Article III: The following acts shall be punishable: (a) Genocide; (b) Conspiracy to commit genocide; (c) Direct and public incitement to commit genocide; (d) Attempt to commit genocide; (e) Complicity in genocide. Articles IV—XIX…”
--Watch the UN video on The Genocide Convention: A Call to Action (4 minutes)
--Click HERE for the translation of the Genocide Convention into 35 languages.
International Day of Commemoration and Dignity of the Victims of the Crime of Genocide and of the Prevention of this Crime (9 December, United Nations). “The purpose of the day is to raise awareness of the [1948 Genocide Convention] and its role in combating and preventing the crime of genocide, as defined in the Convention, and to commemorate and honour its victims. In adopting the [UN’s 2015 resolution for this Day], without a vote, the 193-member Assembly reiterated the responsibility of each individual State to protect its populations from genocide, which entails the prevention of such a crime, including incitement to it.”
--Publications and Resources, UN Office of Genocide Prevention and Responsibility to Protect (e.g., Assessment/Early Waring Tools, Plan of Action for Religious Leaders)
--See more UN Resolutions and documents related to genocide HERE.
More Resources
--Against a Tide of Evil: How One Man Became the Whistleblower to the First Mass Murder of the Twenty-First Century, Mukesh Kapila (2013). “For many years I resisted telling this story because I could not face the pain of recalling the memories and feelings that would be inevitably stirred up within myself. Only the constant nagging of friends that I had a duty to help others who faced the same dilemmas and despair compelled me to share what I have to say.” (Author’s Note, page 7).
“In this no-holds-barred account, the former head of the United Nations in Sudan reveals…the shocking depths of evil plumbed by those who designed and orchestrated 'the final solution' in Darfur. A veteran of humanitarian crisis and ethnic cleansing in Iraq, Rwanda, Srebrenica, Afghanistan and Sierra Leone, Dr Mukesh Kapila arrived in Sudan in March 2003 having made a promise to himself that if he were ever in a position to stop the mass-killers, they would never triumph on his watch. Against a Tide of Evil is a strident and passionate cri de coeur. It is the deeply personal account of one man driven to extreme action by the unwillingness of those in power to stop mass murder.” (quote from Amazon website).
--Courage or Cowardice, TEDxGronigen 2013. Mukesh Kapila. This powerful, 14 minute presentation takes us into the heart of the courage needed to act on behalf of others. Sharing personally from his own struggles, Mukesh recounts how he had to come to terms with his responsibility to break organizational ranks and publicly confront the unfolding genocide in Darfur, Sudan.
--The Power of Creativity: A Path to Healing for Survivors of Sexual Violence, War, and Displacement (23 November 2020), Global Geneva. “The Rosebush’ [image above] is a story cloth created by a woman whose teenage daughter was raped and murdered in front of her by men who had broken into their home at the dead of night. After escaping from Colombia to Ecuador, she joined a women’s circle facilitated by The Common Threads Project. Creating story cloths gives survivors the opportunity to heal and to bear witness to the trauma and sexual violence that are endemic in conflict situations. Catherine Butterly, psychotherapist, trainer and Adviser for the Common Threads Project, spoke to Sarah Grosso, anthropologist and gender consultant, about the healing powers of creativity and the resilience and courage of survivors of SGBV (sexual and gender-based violence) in conflict.” See also The UN's International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women (25 November).
--Night and Fog (1956). Thirty minute film documentary on Nazi atrocities to Jewish people--the Holocaust. Done in French. Subtitles in 50+ languages available in settings. One of the first movies on genocide. Watch the trailer HERE.
--International Network of Genocide Scholars (INGS). "The INGS is a global, interdisciplinary, non-partisan organization that seeks to further research and teaching about the nature, causes, and consequences of genocide, and advance policy studies on genocide prevention." See their journal, Genocide Studies and Prevention. See also their list of over 90 films related to genocide, many including film trailers.
Geneva Peace Week (GPW), 2-6 November 2020. You can now access the events –presentations, panels, interactions, etc.—from this year’s GPW. The events are arranged into eight thematic areas, accessible HERE. The themes are: Harnessing the Economy for Peace, Horizon Scan for Cyber Peace, Building a Culture of Peace, What Works in Peacebuilding, A Ne Vision for peacemaking, How to Build peace, Peacebuilding in a Post-COVID-19 Era and Beyond, and Environment, Conflict, Climate, and Peace.
Bearing Witness (continued)
Dr. Jane Gangi
Preventing genocide requires awareness, will, and, of course, political action and international condemnation. An excerpt from my 2014 book points to another way to think about genocide prevention:
"In How to Prevent Genocide: A Guide for Policymakers, Scholars, and the Concerned Citizen (2001), John Heidenrich tells of the Senoi people of Malaysia, who live a hand-to-mouth existence and who have been surrounded by and often victimized by violence, yet who, despite their hardships, have impressed outsiders with their peaceful, nonviolent culture. Heidenrich writes:
They have few material possessions, their homes little more than grass huts. They subsist on fish, fruit, and animal game, in a jungle whose numerous dangers include wild tigers. Tropical diseases have long been so deadly that a custom has developed wherein infants are not named until, and unless, they survive to two years of age. Vicious raids by slave traders killed Senoi adults and abducted Senoi children well into the twentieth century. They have also experienced British colonial administrators, brutal Japanese invaders, ethnic Chinese Communist guerillas, and condescending Malaysian bureaucrats.
The Senoi have known violence. “Yet the Senoi are remarkably peaceful. As tribes and as individuals, they abhor violence. Many report that they never feel anger. Family quarrels are rare. Virtually nonexistent are any instances of murder, maiming, or hitting” (21‒22).
Children are raised without physical punishment, and their elders embrace their dream life. Heidenrich explains:
One intriguing Jungian theory holds that the Senoi developed their profound psychological maturity by practicing a form of dream therapy. In Senoi families almost every day, especially at mealtime, children and adults are encouraged to describe their dreams, which are then interpreted. Since dreams can reveal a person’s innermost feelings, desires, anxieties, and embarrassments, at least in symbolic terms, the Senoi address these human concerns openly and lovingly, from childhood and throughout adulthood. Simply the mere discussion of these concerns in a lovingly supportive environment can be of immense psychological benefit. (pp. 44‒45)"
Even if there are some of us who do not embrace dream therapy, we can appreciate how important the adult-child connection is. We can listen to our own and each other’s children. The children’s and young adult literature bibliography for my book, Genocide in Contemporary Children’s and Young Adult Literature: Cambodia to Darfur, is posted HERE. Feel free to email me at janegangi@gmail.com for the bibliography for my upcoming publications in Mayersen’s and Jacques and Giddens’s publications.
Jane M. Gangi, PhD, is a former professor of education at Mount Saint Mary College in Newburgh, New York, where she taught courses in literacy, language arts, children’s and young adult literature, and genocide in literature and art. She is a storyteller who especially enjoys telling stories to children and has written numerous articles, chapters, and three books.
COVID Care
Perspectives and Resources
Image courtesy and (c) ENOD 2017----------
Pandemics bring out people's best selves or their worse selves--our selfless and our selfish qualities. The reality of the uncertainties and anxieties of life, and indeed survival--existential risk--is heavy upon the world. Positively, the current COVID-19 pandemic certainly provides plenty of opportunities for us all--individually through internationally--to reflect on the types of people we want to be, the types of societies we need to build, and the types of changes we have to make. We join together in solidarity with the world community's efforts, locally through globally, on behalf of covid care and in hopes to stir up the best selves in all of us. We also note that the many overlapping problems in our world continue unabated--shadow pandemics--even as this covid pandemic dominates the center stage globally: multi-dimensional poverty, protracted violence, human rights violations, gross inequalities, racism, mental ill health, environmental degradation, etc. This is the ongoing, cascading context which challenges us daily as we seek to practically support the wellbeing of all persons/peoples and the planet.
Our recent Updates below are compiled to help ourselves and others with covid care. Examples of issues/resources: anxiety, trauma, depression, confinement, loneliness, loss, grief, relationship strains, coping for children, work insecurities, spiritual struggles, uncertainty/concerns about what is going on, compassion, courage, mutual support, faith-based strengths, etc.
--Grieving Well--Healing Well: Resources for Growth through Loss
Global Integration Update (November 2020)
--Tough Times: Tougher People. Best selves--Better world
Global Integration Update (October 2020)
--Solidarity for Covid-Care: Being Real-Life Heroes
Global Integration Update (September 2020)
--Keep Persevering: Stories and Strategies in the Pandemic
Global Integration Update (August 2020)
--Managing Stress and COVID-Distress: Faith-Inclusive Resources
Global Integration Update (June 2020)
--Staying Sane During COVID-19: Mental Health Resources for Ourselves, Others, World Global Integration Update (May 2020)
--Confronting COVID-19: “Be smart. Be safe. Be kind.”
Global Integration Update (April 2020)See also:
--WHO COVID-19 Resources and Guidance, World Health Organization
--Helpful Thinking During the Coronavirus Outbreak. National Center for PTSD (USA)
--A Self-Care Guide...during COVID-19. Mary Hock Center, George Mason University
--Resolution, COVID-19 Response. World Health Organization (May 2020)
